"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." - 2 Cor. 11:30

"To keep me from being conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Cor. 12:7-10

Weakness. Something I would rather never mention to anyone because I hate being vulnerable. I hate the feeling that I'm getting tossed around by others because I don't have enough courage or wit to fend for myself. I'm scared of showing my worst side because I know human love cannot cover the multitude of sins I have. It makes sense that weakness is the strongest catalyst in helping us get back to God after some spiritual-straying.

However, I find myself boasting not of my weakness...or of Jesus. When people compliment me on something I've done or still continue to do, I usually thank them humbly, sometimes embarassingly, or modestly tell them to not perceive me so highly. Whatever I end up doing, I never boast about my weakness. I mean, I can laugh at myself in retrospect about stupid and careless things I've done (believe me, there are so many I feel a bit embarassed now that I'm on the subject) but I'm mostly "boasting" about it to show others what I've been through and hopefully gain attention, sympathy or affection. My intentions are twisted - I definitely don't boast of my weaknesses for the sake of Christ.